HVAC-Talk site will be slow for the next few days. It's normal site/server maintenance. Thx -Dad

Welcome to HVAC-Talk.com, a non-DIY site and the ultimate Source for HVAC Information & Knowledge Sharing for the industry professional! Here you can join over 150,000 HVAC Professionals & enthusiasts from around the world discussing all things related to HVAC/R. You are currently viewing as a NON-REGISTERED guest which gives you limited access to view discussions

To gain full access to our forums you must register; for a free account. As a registered Guest you will be able to:

Participate in over 40 different forums and search/browse from nearly 3 million posts.

I had a Trane XR 11 heat pump installed with the matching air handler. For the second time in two weeks I noticed no heat coming from the vents. I checked the air handler and found the Freon line had snow all over it and the coils in the air handler and the compressor outside were iced over. The first time this happened my installer came out and replaced the defrost board.

Does anyone suspect there is a problem with some other component than the defrost board. I doubt the new defrost board failed as well.

Thanks for your input

PS - I will never own another Trane again. I should have went with the Goodman and saved a couple of hundred bucks.

"The meek shall inherit the earth"
"he that's walking with wise persons will become wise, but he that is having dealings with the stupid ones will fare badly" Proverbs 13:20
"Pressure is something people feel when they don't know what their doing". Peyton Manning-superbowl MVP

Well since he is wanting heat then it should be in heating mode but since it is frosting up inside and out then it sounds like the unit is running in cooling mode. Sounds like an installation error. Unfortunately I can't tell for sure from here but I would let the service or installation manager know of the company who did the install. More than likely the equipment is not defective but the wiring may be. Heat pumps are considered more complicated than most systems out there and there are quite a few, but definitely not all, installers that don't exactly understand how to wire the system up. Especially if they do not install heat pumps every single day. Most likely your problem is simple and you will be happy with your equipment selection.

Out of curiousity why did you go with the 11 seer equipment? Was cost an issue? I am just curious because in almost exactly one year the 12 and below units will be outlawed for sale but not for service because of energy codes and regulations. Like I said I am not knocking you or any one I am just curious. Marketing and stuff you know

I know you didn't ask me but if I may I can tell you that I went with the XR-11 because I was given the impression that it was a 11.5 seer (from both the Trane promotional materials and the sales rep). I was told that the difference between 11.5 and 13 seer was negligible. That was before I got educated by this site and had I known the XR-11 was really a 10.0 seer or less I probably would have gone with a 13.0 seer Carrier for a few hundred bucks more. Another factor was the 10 year parts and labor warranty from Trane that was thrown in to sweeten the deal. But again had I known then what I know today I would have thought twice about the XR-11.

Originally posted by heatpumpowner I checked the air handler and found the Freon line had snow all over it and the coils in the air handler and the compressor outside were iced over.

The system IS operating in the cooling cycle. Do you have the thermostat set for heating or cooling? I'm assuming nothing here since our weather is currently about 40° above normal. If you are set in the heating cycle, there is likely a control wiring problem. If you are in the cooling cycle, there could be an air flow problem, low outdoor ambient temperature, control problem, refrigerant or other problems. Sounds like it's time to call and calmly request the firms most experienced tech.

There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action....Mark Twain

Thank you for your comments. The unit is in the heating mode when the frosting occurs. It happened again this morning. It gets to the point that I can know it is going to happen. I can touch the freon line and it is cold (while in the heat mode). The installer is coming today.

I went with the 11 seer because I am only going to be in the house another 2 - 3 years. I could not see spending the extra money. But great warranty for the next home owner.

Before you got educated on this site.... lets examine that.... Its illegal for anyone to install something less than 10 SEER. The 2 TWR XR 11 is from 10 to 13 SEER for your information.
Example a 2TWR1024A1 + BAYKSKT and TWE036C14 + TAYTXV-3 IS 11 SEER.

The lowest I can find on the R410 series is 11.5 SEER so what have you learned? You got screwed ? Give us the model number of ALL you components and we'll tell you how much you got screwed.
With heat pumps you have approximately Nine wires in the outside unit not including outdoor stat. You have a furnace with a Tayplus 103 and poof you have 9 wires from heat pump 4 to 5 wires from furnace, 9 from thermostat... and thats not figuring the charge or anything is right on the unit. Possible the contractor made a mistake somewhere on the wiring. Possible its not defrosting right. But I sell Goodman and Trane and others and I will tell you right now that I spend half on Goodman for the same stuff I pay twice as much for for Trane products.... Its not apples to apples I deal with them both every day. Fix your problem with your dealer. Thats all you need to do. Less than 10 SEER? Thats Crap!!!

2TWR1036A1 and TWE036C14. I don't have a TXV or Baykskt. My reading of ARI indicates 10 seer and 6.95 hspf. When I stated "or less" in my prior thread I was referring to less than ideal external factors that could lower the seer below 10. Am I wrong that different factors can increase or decrease the stated seer ?